THE AMAZING LIFE OF JOSEPH

Six months ago, I took my children to go see ‘Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat’ at the Edinburgh Playhouse theatre. I have seen this musical twice before and I have always enjoyed it, but for my children, it was a great opportunity for them to see a biblical narrative adapted in a musical form.

As we watched, Rice and Webber’s portrayal of Joseph’s life, interestingly, I saw it in an entirely different light and I supposed it was due to my improved theological understanding of the Bible. As a result, I was able to see how Rice and Webber missed the point and purpose of Joseph’s life.

In all fairness, Rice and Webber rightly portrayed Joseph as an underdog and through suffering and endurance, he became successful. Though this was not the purpose of the story, we can certainly glean from Joseph’s life, as someone who persevered through difficulties and at the end he was successful. 

Furthermore, some contemporary Christian preachers seem to see the story of Joseph as a source of inspiration for christians to imitate, and through perseverance, they will be granted prosperity by God. 

This common understanding of the story comes from a simple interpretation of the passage but with a closer examination and a faithful interpretation of the passage, it will therefore, reveal the truth of the story and what truly made Joseph’s life amazing.

For us to rightly understand this great biblical narrative, we need to identify the key verse or the thesis of the story.  And the key verse is found in the words of Joseph himself. “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today” Genesis 50:20

These words from Joseph are the inspired Word of God which reveals the truth of Joseph’s life’s purpose, and God’s redemptive plan. We can tell from the human and horizontal perspective, that it was his brothers who sold him into slavery (Genesis 37:27-28).

Despite Joseph’s sufferings, why was he not revengeful towards his brothers? (Genesis 50:15-20). Because he understands that through God’s providential care, his life purpose was to be a rescuer of many people (Genesis 45:5-8).

“he had sent a man ahead of them, Joseph, who was sold as a slave“ Psalm 105:17

Incredibly, Joseph was sent to Egypt, as God’s chosen leader to lead his people to the next phase of redemptive history ( Genesis 45:5, Psalm 105:7-25).

“When he summoned a famine on the land

and broke all supply of bread,

he had sent a man ahead of them,

Joseph, who was sold as a slave”. Psalm 105:16-17

The famine that happened in the ancient world was not a manmade crisis or an early signs of climate change. However, it was God who ordered it . And the famine was a means to preserve His people and to bring glory to Himself through Joseph (Acts 2:23, Romans 8:28). 

Prior to the famine in Egypt and the wider region, Joseph was settled in his job, until he suffered a miscarriage of justice from Potiphar’s wife who maliciously accused him of sexual assault (Genesis 39:1-23).

Though Joseph deserved to be released from prison because of his innocence, God prepared and purified him for active service.

 “His feet were hurt with fetters;

his neck was put in a collar of iron;

until what he had said came to pass,

the word of the LORD tested him”. Psalm 105:18-19 ESV

God used the miscarriage of justice from Potiphar’s wife and the cupbearer ungratefulness to test Joseph’s faith. God’s sovereign wisdom and control of all things orchestrated the process of Joseph’s rise to power. And we know that it was God who gave Pharaoh the two sets of dreams and at the perfect moment, Joseph’s innocence was proven by Pharaoh with his confession of Joseph’s integrity and calling (Genesis 41:38).

As we have seen from Psalm 105 interpretation of Joseph’s life, we can conclude that Joseph’s rise to power in Egypt was not for personal gain but to serve God’s redemptive purpose. And the sufferings of Joseph is directly linked to the coming of Jesus. It was also a shadow of the sufferings of Jesus, the saviour of the world. 

The preservation of Abraham’s children through Joseph made it possible for Jesus to descend from the tribe of Judah.

So why was Joseph’s life amazing? Because Joseph’s purpose was a cosmic affair for the glory of God. Joseph knew that it was his turn to carry the covenant baton for it to be later accomplished in Christ (Genesis 50:19).

We should know that Joseph’s life was not placed in the Bible as a self improvement story for Christians, but it is written for us to see how God gradually brings his plan of salvation to pass (Genesis 45:5-8).

As we reflect on this amazing passage, we should be encouraged and know that God is sovereign and through his wisdom and love we can trust in him.

Finally, the amazing life of Joseph prefigured Jesus Christ in an excellent fashion. Joseph was betrayed by his brothers and sold into slavery and as an innocent person, he was sent to prison, and after years of sufferings - God raised him to power to save many from physical death. In a greater sense, Jesus was betrayed by one of his closest disciples and though he was innocent, he was condemned to death. He died as a substitute for sinners, but God raised him to glory and as a result he saved many from eternal death.